Russian Tortoise

[louwillie]

I'm thinking about getting a baby Russian tortoise in the next couple of months. For economical purposes, I want to keep one in a Sterilite or Rubbermaid tub. Which size do you prefer? What kind of lighting? Basking light wattage? Substrate? What size for an adult? I don't have the room in my backyard for one. Thanks

 

[Kristina]

For a baby, a large sweaterbox or underbed storage box works well.

For an adult, I would do nothing less than a Christmas tree storage tub, 50 gallons or larger in size.

Personally, I prefer coconut coir (the expandable kind) but top soil, cypress mulch, orchid bark, or mixes of those work well also.

Do you have a back yard? Even a kiddy pool with some substrate and grass growing in it would work for a daytime "play yard."